This healthy smoothie bowl could probably pass for a Valentine's Day dessert, but I suggest enjoying it as a filling breakfast or snack instead. It's full of healthy ingredients and decadent flavours!
This blog post is inspired by Love Crunch's Apple Chia Crumble Granola, a delicious blend of organic oats, chopped apples, pecans, chia seeds, and cinnamon. It makes for a great snack all by itself (or with almond milk!) or as an ingredient in recipes like this smoothie bowl!
This smoothie bowl begins with a thick and frosty blend of frozen bananas, coconut milk, a little maple syrup, and a dash each of cinnamon and vanilla. When blended, frozen bananas have a lovely soft serve ice cream consistency which makes the perfect sturdy base for smoothie bowls.
I whipped and blended some soft pitted dates with coconut oil, coconut milk, cinnamon, and maple syrup to create a smooth caramel spread. When chilled, the date caramel gets thick and chewy in texture.
Top the sweet creamy base studded with chewy caramel bits with a sprinkle of Love Crunch Apple Chia Crumble Granola, thin slices of fresh green apples, and a touch of cinnamon. This Valentine's Day, show yourself some love and treat yourself to a Love Crunch smoothie bowl! ♥
This post is sponsored by Nature's Path.
We love Nature's Path for their delicious selection of vegan granolas and breakfast cereals AND because of their awesome Bite4Bite Program. For every bag of Love Crunch granola sold, Nature's Path donates the equivalent to Food Banks across North America. Love Crunch is available at your favourite grocery store or natural food retailer and online at shop.naturespath.com (US) or well.ca (Canada)
Thank you for supporting the brands that support I Love Vegan!
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Love Crunch Caramel Apple Smoothie Bowl
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 serving 1x
- Category: Breakfast, Smoothie
- Cuisine: Vegan
Description
A creamy, lightly-spiced smoothie bowl topped with chewy date caramel, Love Crunch Apple Chia Crumble Granola, sliced apple, and cinnamon! Serves 1.
Ingredients
Date Caramel
- 1 cup soft pitted dates
- 2 tsp coconut oil
- 2 tsp coconut milk
- 1.5 tsp maple syrup
- 2 pinches cinnamon
Banana Smoothie Bowl
- 3 frozen bananas, roughly chopped
- 1 tbsp date caramel
- 2 tbsp coconut milk
- 2 tsp maple syrup
- ⅛ tsp vanilla
- pinch cinnamon
Toppings
- 3/2 cup Love Crunch Apple Crumble Granola
- ⅓ apple, thin sliced
- cinnamon sticks
- pinch cinnamon
- 2 tbsp extra date caramel (or more!)
Instructions
Date Caramel
- In a food processor, combine dates and coconut oil. Process until smooth, using a spatula to pull the date mixture away from the sides as needed. Once smooth, add the coconut milk and maple syrup. Transfer to an air tight food storage container.
Banana Smoothie Bowl
- In a high speed blender or food processor, blend frozen bananas, date caramel, coconut milk, maple syrup, and cinnamon until smooth. The mixture will be very thick.
Toppings
- Serve the banana smoothie base in a bowl and top with small spoonfuls of date caramel. Gently stir the dollops of date caramel into the smoothie. Top with thin sliced apples, cinnamon, and Love Crunch Apple Chia Crumble Granola. Eat with a spoon.
Notes
The date caramel recipe will make more than you'll use in this smoothie bowl. Leftover caramel can be used to sweeten oatmeal, smoothies, tea and coffee, or it can be used as a spread on toast or fruit.
Lori
OM NOM NOM
I made this and it's SUPER TASTY, though mine didn't come out looking nearly as gorgeous as yours, haha. One thing--I think the three "tsp" measurements in the date caramel portion of the recipe should read "Tbsp"? I tried it with teaspoons, at any rate, and it came out more like a sticky ball of minced dates. So I added a bit more coconut oil, coconut milk, and maple syrup, and it came out smooth and caramel-y and awesome. So either the recipe's off or I used the wrong kind of dates?? They *were* from the bulk bin...
★★★★★
Molly Kumar
That looks so delicious and such stunning pictures. I love smoothies but have never made a smoothie bowl till now - this looks like a good start 🙂
★★★★★
Hauke Fox
Super cool smoothie bowl idea!! But the photos are even better, love how all the colours fit together. Absolutely stunning!!
Gin
Awesomest smoothie bowl ever! The apple and caramel and cinnamon...I'm going nuts just thinking about it! Pinned. 🙂
★★★★★
Vanessa @ VeganFamilyRecipes.com
Caramel apple in a bowl? Now, that's my kind of smoothie bowl! sharing 🙂
The Vegan 8
This is such a gorgeous smoothie bowl, wow! I love apples, they are my favorite fruit, so the perfect addition here! I love how beautifully you decorated it! I love how warm and inviting your pics are too!
Mel @ avirtualvegan.com
That is one good looking smoothie bowl. I could dive right in! I love the mixture of flavours and textures.
★★★★★
Donna
Oh my goodness, this smoothie bowl looks like all kinds of amazing! I am hooked on Loves granola, so a smoothie bowl inspired by that is bound to taste delicious!
Sahar Aman
This looks sounds amazing! My favourite flavours in this world, I also love your photography!!
Trish
K Love Crunch is one of our most favourite things in the world. Really it is.I think the kids would love this.
Dylan
This sounds so sweet! I may just try it this weekend. Weekends seem to be my creative smoothie bowl making time. Love your combo of apple, cinnamon and maple syrup.
Natalie Freed
That looks SO good! I love idea of the chewy date caramel bits. Must try.
Angela Chu
This looks so pretty! I agree as well, the smoothie bowl can totally pass for a dessert 🙂
★★★★★
Jenn
YUM! Healthy enough for breakfast, decadent enough for dessert! Love it! And that granola sounds awesome!
Letty / Letty's Kitchen
Date caramel--omg. I'm saving this one!
Linda @ Veganosity
What a beautiful smoothie bowl. I love everything about this. Perfect for Valentine's Day breakfast.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Now that's one delicious welcoming smoothie bowl! Apple cinnamon is the best!